There’s something brewing in Lubbock, Texas, and ESPN has taken notice. In its annual list of college football’s most fascinating teams entering the 2025 season, the network included Texas Tech — a program that has long lived in the shadows of the sport’s elite, but one that now appears to be ascending into rarefied air. For years, Texas Tech has been defined by wild shootouts, high-octane offenses, and frustrating inconsistency. But now, in 2025, the Red Raiders represent something more nuanced: a fusion of tradition and transformation, chaos and control, ambition and authenticity.
Why is Texas Tech suddenly fascinating to the national media? It starts at the top. Head coach Joey McGuire, now in his fourth season at the helm, has completely redefined the culture in Lubbock. Once considered a risky hire — a former Texas high school coach with limited college experience — McGuire has proven to be a masterful motivator, recruiter, and builder of men. His energy is infectious, his connection to Texas high school football unmatched, and his commitment to a physical brand of football has turned heads. Unlike some past iterations of Texas Tech football, which leaned heavily on finesse and tempo, McGuire’s team plays with grit, discipline, and an edge that has come to embody West Texas.
The 2025 roster is one of the most talented the school has ever fielded. It’s not just about flashy numbers anymore — though those are certainly present — it’s about balance, versatility, and leadership. Quarterback Jamarion Carlton, a local hero who turned down several blue-blood programs to stay in-state, leads the offense with poise and swagger. Carlton isn’t just a dual-threat quarterback in name; he’s the kind of player who makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. He’s capable of burning secondaries with a deep ball one play and scrambling 30 yards on third-and-long the next. His command of the offense and his rapport with his receivers has elevated the Red Raiders’ attack to one of the most dynamic in the country.
But what truly separates this team from past Texas Tech squads is what’s happening on the other side of the ball. The Red Raiders’ defense — long a sore spot and national punchline — has emerged as a genuine strength. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter has crafted a unit that is fast, aggressive, and, most importantly, opportunistic. ESPN analysts have praised the Red Raiders’ ability to create chaos without completely losing structure — a far cry from the days when Texas Tech was content to win 55-52 every Saturday.
Anchoring the defense are two Preseason All-Americans: linebacker Tyrese Ford and edge rusher Maximo Hernandez. Ford is the heartbeat of the defense, a sideline-to-sideline enforcer with a nose for the football and an insatiable motor. Hernandez, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most feared pass-rushers in the country, combining explosive first-step quickness with a relentless pursuit that has made him a constant presence in opposing backfields. Together, they form the identity of a defense that is built not just to survive in the Big 12 — but to dominate.
The recruiting success has also played a key role in Texas Tech’s rise. For years, the Red Raiders were forced to pick up the leftovers from Texas, Texas A\&M, and Oklahoma. But with McGuire at the helm, the program is no longer content to be the fallback option. Texas Tech has become a destination. The recent commitment of four-star safety Donovan Webb over traditional powers like Michigan and Notre Dame sent a clear message: this isn’t your older brother’s Red Raiders. Lubbock is building something special, and recruits are taking notice. The Red Raiders have also benefited from the shifting sands of conference realignment and the transfer portal era. As the Big 12 landscape changes and name, image, and likeness (NIL) money becomes more influential, Texas Tech has smartly positioned itself as a forward-thinking, player-friendly program. The school’s commitment to NIL — including one of the most aggressive revenue-sharing models in college football — has helped the Red Raiders keep top talent and attract key additions from the portal. Felix Ojo’s massive deal is a prime example. His agent called it the biggest rev-share agreement in college football, and it set a new standard for what’s possible in Lubbock. That move alone turned heads nationwide, especially among players and agents paying attention to where the future of the sport is headed.
Off the field, Texas Tech’s fan base has remained one of the most underrated in the nation. Jones AT\&T Stadium has become a cauldron of noise, and home-field advantage in Lubbock is now real — not just a talking point. Night games there have taken on a new life, where tortillas fly, the crowd rocks, and opponents feel the weight of West Texas pressure. It’s part of what makes this team so fascinating. It’s not just about who they are on paper — it’s about how the city, the region, and the program have bought in to something bigger.
The schedule is another reason Texas Tech is turning heads in 2025. With several marquee matchups — including a much-anticipated home clash with Utah, a revenge game against Texas State, and key showdowns against Arizona and Kansas State — the Red Raiders will have ample opportunity to prove they belong in the playoff conversation. The Big 12, now without Texas and Oklahoma, is wide open, and Texas Tech has a legitimate shot to claim the throne. Their toughest challenge may be consistency. The Red Raiders are talented, yes, but they’ll need to show they can handle success, stay healthy, and close out games that matter. In past years, Tech teams have flinched under the weight of expectations. This group seems different — older, wiser, and more aware of what’s at stake. They’ve heard the noise, they’ve seen the hype, and now it’s time to live up to it.
And then, there’s the narrative — one that ESPN and other media outlets can’t resist. Texas Tech isn’t just a good football team. They are a story. A resurrection. A challenge to the power structure of college football. They represent possibility, change, and the idea that tradition doesn’t have to mean stagnation. When the sport seems increasingly defined by billion-dollar brands and legacy programs, the Red Raiders remind us that with vision, passion, and the right leadership, anyone can crash the party.
In many ways, they are the perfect team for 2025. They have star power, depth, personality, and purpose. They aren’t afraid to talk big, but they also have the muscle to back it up. They come from a part of the country that has long been overlooked, and they carry that chip with pride. Every tackle, every touchdown, every win — it’s about proving a point. It’s about legacy. It’s about writing a new chapter in Texas Tech football history.
So, when ESPN put them on the list of the most fascinating teams this season, it wasn’t a gimmick. It was recognition. Of how far they’ve come, and how far they might still go. The Red Raiders are no longer outsiders begging for attention. They’re contenders demanding respect. And in the wild, unpredictable world of college football, they might just be the team that shakes everything up.
